I GOT THIS

We have no strength but the strength God gives us.

1 Corinthians 10:13, There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

One of the most misapplied verses in Scripture is 1 Corinthians 10:13. Some say, “God will not give you more than you can handle.” That is not true friend! God will load us up so we will call out to Him! He points out first and foremost; our need of Him. Even after we are saved; we need His strength to live the Christian life. Without Him, it can’t be done!

            In all actuality, “I don’t got this!” We don’t have anything in control! We need Him in ever aspect of our lives! Will you humble yourself, acknowledging your need of Him this morning?

GOD’S STRENGTH

There can be no doubt in any man's mind nor in any man's heart that God is our sustenance and our strength. Each of us must believe wholeheartedly and fiercely in the power and the glory and the strength of God.  Thus, it would be more proper to say that each man must seek the companionship of God.  God awaits each one of us. --Harold K. Johnson

Luke 1:37, For with God nothing shall be impossible.

You plus God is a majority! Many people say, “If God is on your side….” It’s not that God is on our side; it’s either we are in God’s Will or we’re not. We do not hold any strength in and of ourselves; we are dependent upon God. When we are in His Will, we have His strength!  

How often do we attempt to do things our way and we make a mess of it? God has not created robots to follow His every command. He has created us with free-will to think, choose, and live with the consequences. Are you living in the strength God brings through His Word? If not, call out to Him today!

NO ONE OWES YOU ANYTHING

2 Thessalonians 3:10, For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

            There is a growing mentality in which people who do nothing feel as if they are owed something, just because. Just because they were born in a poor neighborhood. Just because they are of some ethnic group. Just because they had something bad happen to them when they were young. Just because their mom was a drug addict. Just because their dad beat them. Just because this or just because that.

            As a “survivor” of mental, physical, and sex abuse, I find it simply crazy to think that anyone owes me anything. No one owes me an answer as to why this happened to me. No one owes me a hand out. No one should have to give up their hard-earned income because I am too lazy or self-absorbed to get off my can and work for what I need. God has given me a sound mind, two arms, two legs, and an ability to work. If He has given you the same, then you need to do the same! Here is what I need to do this morning: I need to get up, get ready, and head to my place of employment to be able to continue to provide for my family. If God wants me to receive a handout, He will provide it to me! I won’t have to beg, steal, or borrow. God will always provide for His people if they are doing what He wants.

            So, before you get that “Everyone owes me something mentality”, be reminded this morning that God doesn’t owe us anything and neither does anyone else. Rely on the Lord to give you the strength, knowledge and wisdom to provide for your family!

WHO ARE YOU LEANING ON

Real true faith is man's weakness leaning on God's strength. -D.L. Moody

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7

Your actions will reveal who you are leaning on. When things go wrong do you call your parents to dig you out? When you need a helping hand do you reach out to that friend you shouldn’t be around to start off with! The Lord tells us in these scriptures we need to “walk in him.” We need to have a mindset of He is the go to guy!

BE IN YOUR PLACE

The living Church, though never neat, keeps God's world from complete disaster. –Macleod

We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. Psalm 55:14

Your influence upon this old world goes further than you think! Your impact on your family, friends, and complete strangers is immeasurable. While we may not know the span of our influence, God does. He knows who we need to get to in order to share the Gospel. All we have to do is be prepared. We remain prepared when we GET UP, GET READY and GO TO CHURCH! We do it by being in our place every time the church doors are open!

RESOLUTION FOR VICTORY

            Before any victory comes in your life there must be an understanding that God is.

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10

             Understanding that God is our refuge; He is the place of safety when life goes wrong. He is our place of refuge when the enemy attacks.

            Understanding that God is our strength; He is much more than a set of crutches, He is the very reason we stand. He is our source of strength when everything else doesn’t work. That’s why I developed this saying, Before all else fails—God is the answer!

            Understanding that God is our help; Be still, and know….God is our only help to be saved!

God is all this and much, much more! He is our all in all! He is the reason for victory!

GOT STRENGTH?

For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? Psalm 43:2

In 1993, the Milk Processor Education Program started running a campaign to help promote the sale of milk. The “Got Milk” slogan was promoted by media, sporting, and entertainment celebrities. The message of these commercials was that milk was the source of strength to become famous athletes, rock stars, or other celebrities. The success of this campaign ran for 21 years and boosted milk sales to record levels.

            Child of God, our strength comes from God. It comes from His Son! John 14:6, Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. It comes from His Word! John 17:17, Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. It comes from His Spirit! John 16:13, Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

            When we have to do the hard things in life, standing up against temptation, loving our enemies, or facing life’s storms when they come, we can rest in our Saviour by knowing He is our strength and He will strengthen us!

PRAY AT YOUR PRAYER MEETING

Prayer is the breath of faith.  Prayer meetings are the lungs of the church. –Spurgeon

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16

Each Wednesday night at our church we share our praises and burdens and then we have a time of prayer around the altar. We don’t do this for fun. We do this because prayer is the backbone of the church. It is where our strength comes from. Nothing done in the church has ever been done without prayer!

You don’t have a Wednesday night service, start one. Invite fellow church members over to the church on Wednesday nights. Share one another’s burdens. Share how God has been working in each of your lives. Include in your prayers praises for His faithfulness to you and the need of fellow church members! Before you know it God will being to work in and through your life bringing forth much fruit!

WHY SHOULD I READ THE BIBLE?

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 2 Timothy 3:16                  

      According to Barna Research group, only 56% of Practicing Christians read scripture regularly. Wow, 56%! Now, think about that for a moment… a little more than half of the people reading this post will make an effort to pick up their Bibles and read it today. I wonder if we took a pole who would make up that 44%? Would it be a Sunday School teacher? Would it be a Junior Church worker? Would it be a Pastor, preacher, evangelist, or missionary?

Reading the Bible is essential for our edification!

Once again, my list isn’t exhaustive…

A.         It powers our Faith-

“But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” John 20:31

B.         It direct our Footsteps-

”Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105

C.         It delivers us from Failing in our temptations- ”There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

       How faithful are you to your Bible reading? I recently heard this quote, “Those who spend more time reading books about the Bible than they do reading the Bible are likely to be influenced more by what men said about the Bible than by what God said in the Bible.” R. B. Ouellette.

WHERE DO YOU GO FOR STRENGTH?

Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah. Psalm 84:3-4

When weary, go to church. When discouraged, go to church. When depressed, go to church. When confused, go to church. When weak, go to church. When overcome with sin, go to church. When tired, go to church. When lost, go to church. When broken, go to church. When overwhelmed, go to church. But wait… When joyful, go to church. When cheerful, go to church. When satisfied, go to church. When contented, go to church. When blessed, go to church. When happy, go to church. When living on the mountain top, go to church.

Child of God—GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH! No matter what your circumstances are this morning, go church today to get the strength you need for today or what you may need for tomorrow!

WHY ARE YOU SO WEAK WHEN WE SERVE AN OMNIPOTENT GOD?

You cannot run away from a weakness; you must some time fight it out or perish; and if that be so, why not now, and where you stand. --Robert Louis Stevenson

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. Romans 7:18

I am thankful when Christ was about to ascend into Heaven He told us (those that are saved) that He was leaving us the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost. (John 14:26) He did this so that we could have strength. He did it so that we could have understanding of His Word and Wisdom to apply it. He did it so that we can have victory in this life- victory over sin- victory over self- victory over death!

Do you have a weakness in your life you just don’t seem to have the strength to overcome? Maybe it’s time to quit trying in your flesh and give it to Christ. Stand up right where you are at and have faith to see Him work it through! I am reminded of what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

SADDLE UP AND GET BUSY FOR THE LORD

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10

So many excuses as to why we can’t do anything for the Lord. But He shut every last one of them down in this one verse:

1. He is with us—His presence brings peace!

2. He is God—What can’t He accomplish?

3. He gives strength!

4. He gives help!

5. He uphold us with His righteousness!

John Wayne said, “Courage us being scared to death-and saddling up anyway.” I put more of a spiritual emphasis on the saying, “Courage is being scared to death but getting up and doing what God wants you to do anyway!”

What has God called you to do? Then do it for the glory of God!

NO TIME FOR WEAKNESS

If thou wouldst conquer thy weakness thou must not gratify it. --William Penn

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Ephesians 6:10

While in boot camp we had team challenges where 4 or five guys got together to perform a certain task. One of those task was to put out a simulation fire on board a ship. Each man had their responsibility. There was not a time nor place for weakness for if one did, we would have failed…and the ship would have sunk.

Child of God you are not alone in this life. You have the Lord who is omnipotent on your side. He will never be getting some sleep for He never sleeps or slumbers. He will always have an answer for He is omniscient. He will always be there for you for He is omnipresent. He will never waver on His way, His work, or His willingness to help you for He is immutable. So with all of this going on for you…tell me again why you give place for time of weakness? Friend, BE STRONG IN THE LORD!

I NEED HELP NOW!

To the man who himself strives earnestly, God also lends a helping hand. -Aeschylus

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

            Mary thought Jesus was late when her Brother Lazarus had died. She said, “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.”But Jesus had other plans. Cutting to the quick of the story Jesus said, “Lazarus, come forth.” The whole lot of them thought there was no hope for Lazarus but Jesus knew what He was doing and guess what…He was right on time!

            If you want help from the Lord all you have to do is ask. For the lost sinner, He can save your soul from hell giving you life and life more abundant! For the living saint, He can save you from yourself. No matter what trouble, no matter what temptation, no matter what mountainous of a problem you may have, God is never late with help. He is always right on time, all time!

My Faith Helps Me and Those around Me!

Real true faith is man's weakness leaning on God's strength. -D.L. Moody

Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:2

Some may wonder why they are not used of God. Well, if they would be faithful in the little things God gives, He would probably give them larger things to do. But I have seen in time and time again instead of people leaning on God’s strength, in faith, they go about life trying to do it on their own, thus falling flat on their face. Child of God, whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men! When we do….He gets the glory and He takes care of His people!

Comfort comes with Him near!

Of all created comforts, God is the lender; you are the borrower, not the owner. -Rutherford

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10

If there is one thing that brings comfort in my life; it is knowing the Lord is with me! It’s not a right that I have; it is one of the many gifts God gives to His children! I don’t know what you are going through but I know the Lord is there right beside you ready to walk with you! So get up and go the way He has laid out for you with a boldness knowing He will, strengthen, help, and uphold you in that journey!